The Black Candle

The first feature film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle traces the holiday’s growth out of the Black Power Movement in the 1960s to its present-day reality as a global, pan-African holiday embraced by over millions of celebrants.

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‘The Black Candle’ Synopsis

The Black Candle is a landmark, vibrant documentary film that uses Kwanzaa as a vehicle to explore and celebrate the African-American experience.

Narrated by world renowned poet Maya Angelou and directed by award-winning author and filmmaker MK Asante, The Black Candle is an extraordinary, inspirational story about the struggle and triumph of family, community, and culture.

Filmed across the United States, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean, The Black Candle is a timely illumination on why the seven principles of Kwanzaa (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith) are relevant today.

The first feature film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle traces the holiday’s growth from the first celebration in 1966 to its present-day reality as a global holiday embraced by over 20 million celebrants.

With vivid cinematography and an all star cast that features NFL Legend Jim Brown, Hip Hop icon Chuck D, Kwanzaa’s founder Dr. Maulana Karenga, artist Synthia Saint James and many others, The Black Candle is more than a film about a holiday: it’s a celebration of a people!

MK on CBS Early Show

Watch The Black Candle featured on the CBS Early Show. In this segment, the first TV interviewed about the film, MK discusses the film, the holiday, and the meaning of the principles. The Early Show also plays an excerpt from the award-winning film.

MK on NBC News

Watch The Black Candle featured on NBC New York's Positively Black. In this segment, director MK Asante discusses the vision behind the film, working behind-the-scenes with Dr. Maya Angelou, and the overall success of the movie.

The Black Candle Trailer

Praise for ‘The Black Candle’

"The first film on Kwanzaa, The Black Candle, narrated by Maya Angelou, is fit for a poet."